Written Answers Tuesday 20 May 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of drunkenness or drink driving were recorded by police in Tayside in each of the last three years for which information is available, also expressed as a percentage of all recorded crime in Tayside.

Kenny MacAskill: The figures requested for the number of offences of drunkenness and drink driving recorded by Tayside police force are shown in table 4A of the statistical bulletins Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 . Copies of these publications are held in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 37835, 40365, 43510 respectively).

  Crimes of Offences of Drunkenness and Drunk Driving Recorded by Police in Tayside, 2004-05 to 2006-07, as Percentage of Total Recorded Crime in Tayside.

  

 
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Drunkenness
 0.62%
 0.68%
 0.51%


 Drunk Driving
 1.08%
 1.15%
 1.13%


 Total Crimes and Offences
 90,388
 88,690
 88,360

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have been recorded in each local authority area in the Lothians in each year since 2000-01 for offences under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 relating to sales of alcohol to those under the age of 18 and how many prosecutions for such offences are presently pending.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government Court Proceedings database contains information on convictions and prosecutions in Scottish courts. The available information relating to sales of alcohol to persons under 18 is given in the following table. The database does not contain information about pending cases.

  Persons Proceeded Against for Selling Alcohol to Persons Under 181, in Courts in the Lothians, by Approximate Local Authority Area2, 2000-01 - 2005-06

  

 Local authority area
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 East Lothian 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Persons proceeded against
 2
 2
 -
 -
 -
 2


 Persons with a charge proved 
 2
 2
 -
 -
 -
 1


 Edinburgh, City of 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Persons proceeded against
 2
 2
 8
 3
 5
 5


 Persons with a charge proved 
 1
 1
 6
 2
 4
 2


 Midlothian 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Persons proceeded against
 1
 1
 -
 -
 2
 1


 Persons with a charge proved 
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -


 West Lothian 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Persons proceeded against
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Persons with a charge proved 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Total
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Persons proceeded against
 6
 5
 8
 3
 7
 8


 Persons with a charge proved 
 4
 4
 6
 2
 4
 3



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence. Includes prosecutions under Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 sections 68(1) and 90A(2).

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. Some local authority areas, including Midlothian, do not contain a sheriff court.

Audiology

Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on research into tinnitus and whether any specific research plans, other than specialism in selected hospitals, have been put forward.

Shona Robison: We are not aware of any specific plans at this stage. However, the Audiology Services Advisory Group (ASAG), which is responsible for advising the Scottish Government on audiology issues, includes the issue of tinnitus on its agenda, and will continue to monitor progress.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether external consultants have been appointed to examine drama funding at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and, if so, when the appointment was made and what remit the consultants have been given.

Fiona Hyslop: The appointment of any external consultants to examine drama funding at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama would be an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council. While the council is considering a review of drama provision, it has informed me that at this stage no consultants have been appointed for this purpose. Any subsequent decision to appoint consultants for this purpose would be entirely for the council.

Dentistry

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people were registered with an NHS dentist in each local authority area in the Lothians in each of the last five years, broken down by age group.

Shona Robison: The information requested is only available from March 2007. The table presents information as at March, June and September 2007.

  Percentage of People Registered with an NHS Dentist; by Age Group and each Local Authority Area1 in Lothian

  30 March 2007

  

 Age Group
 East Lothian
 Edinburgh
 Midlothian
 West Lothian


 0-2
 35.1
 40.8
 36.5
 40.9


 3-5
 75.3
 79.3
 65.6
 73.8


 6-12
 78.9
 84.0
 71.4
 78.9


 13-17
 78.6
 75.2
 66.3
 72.6


 18-24
 56.2
 34.1
 47.6
 55.2


 25-34
 48.5
 42.8
 50.6
 60.2


 35-44
 45.7
 57.6
 50.7
 62.8


 45-54
 43.2
 55.9
 48.5
 59.1


 55-64
 38.5
 53.1
 44.3
 52.7


 65-74
 36.7
 47.3
 39.1
 45.3


 75+
 30.9
 31.4
 24.9
 31.7


 Total
 49.1
 51.4
 49.3
 59.0



  30 June 2007

  

 Age Group
 East Lothian
 Edinburgh
 Midlothian
 West Lothian


 0-2
 35.3
 42.0
 35.0
 39.9


 3-5
 75.3
 80.6
 64.3
 74.2


 6-12
 78.5
 84.4
 72.4
 77.8


 13-17
 78.5
 76.0
 67.8
 72.3


 18-24
 56.1
 34.8
 50.2
 56.5


 25-34
 46.8
 43.4
 53.1
 60.1


 35-44
 44.0
 57.8
 51.8
 62.4


 45-54
 41.8
 57.0
 50.1
 59.9


 55-64
 36.8
 53.9
 46.1
 53.0


 65-74
 35.8
 47.8
 40.2
 45.6


 75+
 30.1
 32.0
 26.3
 32.2


 Total
 48.1
 52.0
 50.7
 59.1



  30 September 2007

  

 Age Group
 East Lothian
 Edinburgh
 Midlothian
 West Lothian


 0-2
 35.6
 43.0
 36.1
 41.2


 3-5
 76.8
 83.9
 66.6
 78.3


 6-12
 80.3
 86.9
 75.1
 80.3


 13-17
 80.8
 78.9
 70.5
 75.4


 18-24
 58.5
 37.7
 53.2
 60.2


 25-34
 46.9
 45.7
 56.2
 63.1


 35-44
 44.0
 59.6
 54.4
 65.2


 45-54
 42.5
 59.1
 52.9
 63.2


 55-64
 37.9
 55.4
 48.7
 55.7


 65-74
 36.7
 49.3
 42.8
 48.3


 75+
 31.0
 33.9
 28.6
 34.6


 Total
 49.0
 54.2
 53.4
 61.9

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether thrombosis kills more people each year in Scotland than the combined totals of breast cancer, HIV/Aids and traffic accidents.

Nicola Sturgeon: In each of the last five years, the number of deaths from all forms of thrombosis (coronary, cerebral, peripheral arterial, vascular and from other conditions caused by thrombosis) is significantly higher than the number of deaths from breast cancer, HIV/AIDS and land transport accidents combined, as indicated by the figures provided by General Register Office for Scotland in the following table:

  

 Cause of Death
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
2007 (Provisional)


 Thrombosis
 15,154
 14,375
 13,548
 12,580
 12,275


 Breast Cancer/ HIV/AIDS/ Land Transport Accidents 
 3,542
 3,438
 3,480
 3,463
 1,378

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that thrombosis kills five times the number of people who die from MRSA and clostridium difficile combined.

Nicola Sturgeon: In the years 2003 to 2006, the number of deaths from all forms of thrombosis (coronary, cerebral, peripheral arterial, vascular and from other conditions caused by thrombosis) is significantly higher than the number of deaths from MRSA and Clostridium difficile combined, as indicated by the figures provided by General Register Office for Scotland in the following table:

  

 Cause of Death
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007 (Provisional)


 Thrombosis
 15,154
 14,375
 13,548
 12,580
 12,275


 MRSA/ Clostridium Difficile
 112
 140
 140
 215
 Not Available Yet

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all patients diagnosed with coeliac disease are entitled to free prescriptions for gluten-free food.

Shona Robison: Coeliac disease is not one of the conditions that confer exemption from prescription charges. To be exempt from prescription charges on medical grounds, a person must suffer from one of the chronic medical conditions stipulated in the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations.

  People who suffer from coeliac disease, and who are prescribed gluten-free food, can benefit from buying prescription pre-payment certificates (PPCs), which entitle holders to free prescriptions while the PPC is valid. The price of PPCs was cut by 51% in April 2008. A 12 month PPC now costs £48 and a four month PPC costs £17. Further reductions are planned over the next two years, with the intention that prescriptions will be free from April 2011, including those for gluten free food.

Higher Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what ministerial involvement there has been since May 2007 in the discussions and decisions taken on the future of the Crichton Campus in Dumfries.

Fiona Hyslop: Since May 2007, I have had meetings to discuss the future of the Crichton Campus with the Principal of the University of Glasgow, the Principal of the University of the West of Scotland, representatives of the University and College Union and the Chair and the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council. I have also visited the campus and met with the academic partners, students, staff, representatives from the Crichton Carbon Centre and other local stakeholders and politicians.

  On 20 August 2007, the Scottish Government announced a package of additional funding amounting to £1.5 million to support a new Academic Strategy, developed by the Scottish Funding Council, the Crichton academic partners and other stakeholder interests, to secure and enhance higher education provision at the Crichton Campus. The allocation of this funding to individual institutions is, however, a matter for the Scottish Funding Council. Legislation precludes ministers from involvement in these decisions.

Historic Scotland

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated to Historic Scotland in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09 for the restoration of active churches.

Linda Fabiani: No specific allocation is made by the Scottish Government to Historic Scotland for the restoration of churches. Historic Scotland allocates funding for grants, including those to places of worship, from its overall budget.

  In 2006-07, Historic Scotland awarded grants of £553,000 and in 2007-08 it awarded grants of £1,471,664.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign nationals were recommended for deportation by sentencing judges or sheriffs in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The following table details the number of persons in relation to whom a recommendation for deportation was made following conviction in the High Court of Justiciary and sheriff court.

  Recommendations for Deportation

  

 Year
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Total
 12
 14
 37
 63
 129



  Note: Figures for the High Court of Justiciary only available from 2004.

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital beds were available in each NHS board in each year since 1997, also broken down by hospital in (a) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Nicola Sturgeon: Details are as follows:

  

 Board
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Ayrshire and Arran
 2,234
 2,163
 2,147
 2,149
 2,137
 2,114
 2,068
 2,044
 1,976
 1,906


 Borders
 754
 734
 688
 654
 643
 625
 658
 623
 626
 635


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1,076
 1,104
 980
 835
 808
 766
 806
 828
 810
 801


 Fife
 2,097
 2,029
 1,979
 1,914
 1,822
 1,771
 1,738
 1,760
 1,676
 1,649


 Forth Valley
 2,106
 2,028
 1,862
 1,735
 1,630
 1,493
 1,366
 1,338
 1,281
 1,258


 Grampian
 3,892
 3,732
 3,589
 3,464
 3,303
 3,106
 2,973
 2,915
 2,874
 2,889


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 10,932
 10,289
 9,732
 9,335
 8,947
 8,558
 8,372
 8,015
 7,843
 7,682


 Highland
 2,153
 2,088
 2,049
 1,992
 1,979
 1,892
 1,780
 1,764
 1,740
 1,677


 Lanarkshire
 3,726
 3,661
 3,590
 3,421
 3,182
 3,058
 3,000
 2,835
 2,633
 2,542


 Lothian
 5,117
 4,819
 4,525
 4,376
 4,455
 4,455
 4,249
 4,131
 4,117
 4,047


 Orkney
 147
 131
 102
 95
 94
 94
 94
 94
 77
 70


 Shetland
 116
 100
 101
 100
 100
 100
 100
 100
 100
 99


 Tayside
 3,374
 3,235
 3,106
 2,842
 2,606
 2,549
 2,455
 2,332
 2,254
 2,124


 Western Isles
 274
 263
 248
 248
 224
 224
 227
 229
 201
 204


 Scotland
 37,998
 36,376
 34,696
 33,160
 31,930
 30,793
 29,886
 29,069
 28,291
 27,650



  Notes:

  Data as at 31 March for all specialties.

  Data for year ending 31 March 2007 are provisional.

  Specialty definitions in Scotland were revised from 1 April 1997. As a result directly comparable information prior to 1997-98 is not available.

  

 Ayrshire and Arran
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Abbey Carrick Glen Hospital
 2
 3
 0
 0
 0
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Ailsa Hospital
 371
 336
 325
 298
 283
 282
 280
 279
 270
 269


 Arran War Memorial Hospital
 22
 21
 22
 23
 23
 22
 22
 22
 22
 21


 Arrol Park Resource Centre
 67
 71
 71
 71
 68
 67
 67
 67
 67
 52


 Ayr Hospital
 342
 347
 345
 347
 351
 351
 352
 352
 353
 342


 Ayrshire Central Hospital
 357
 307
 308
 311
 298
 295
 286
 282
 277
 226


 Ballochmyle Hospital
 53
 53
 54
 20
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Biggart Hospital
 167
 167
 167
 167
 167
 167
 167
 166
 166
 166


 Brooksby House Hospital
 16
 16
 16
 16
 16
 16
 16
 16
 12
 -


 Crosshouse Hospital
 593
 596
 594
 605
 616
 614
 608
 609
 606
 651


 Davidson Cottage Hospital
 30
 30
 0
 28
 28
 24
 26
 25
 26
 26


 East Ayrshire Community Hospital
 -
 -
 -
 48
 74
 74
 72
 72
 74
 74


 Holmhead Hospital
 56
 56
 56
 56
 56
 56
 36
 30
 6
 -


 Kirklandside Hospital
 89
 89
 89
 89
 86
 85
 81
 72
 66
 66


 Lady Margaret Hospital
 14
 14
 14
 14
 14
 14
 14
 14
 14
 14


 Strathlea Resource Centre
 56
 56
 56
 56
 55
 47
 42
 38
 17
 -



  

 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 2-4 Waterloo Close
 -
 -
 7
 8
 8
 7
 8
 8
 7
 8


 Belvidere Hospital
 46
 11
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Birdston Nursing Home
 -
 47
 64
 64
 59
 60
 60
 63
 63
 63


 Blythe Wood House
 -
 -
 -
 -
 10
 12
 7
 -
 -
 -


 Bridge of Weir Hospital
 148
 113
 63
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Canniesburn Hospital
 189
 163
 114
 60
 62
 64
 70
 66
 65
 64


 Cowglen Hospital
 148
 131
 138
 135
 18
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Darnley Court Nursing Home
 115
 120
 120
 114
 118
 120
 120
 120
 120
 119


 Deanfield Nursing Home
 -
 -
 15
 15
 14
 15
 15
 15
 15
 15


 Dumbarton Joint Hospital
 60
 60
 58
 58
 47
 40
 40
 42
 16
 11


 Dykebar Hospital
 393
 365
 325
 338
 326
 314
 309
 303
 304
 255


 East Park Home
 1
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Elderslie Hospital
 8
 8
 4
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Erskine Home
 -
 10
 5
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Four Hills Nursing Home
 120
 118
 120
 120
 123
 123
 109
 97
 83
 67


 Gartnavel Royal Hospital
 368
 365
 365
 370
 355
 322
 299
 246
 242
 241


 Glasgow Royal Infirmary
 725
 741
 684
 698
 713
 738
 716
 722
 740
 745


 Greenfield Park Care Centre
 120
 120
 120
 120
 120
 120
 120
 120
 104
 60


 Hawkhead Hospital
 166
 166
 155
 110
 85
 59
 47
 32
 0
 -


 Hunters Hill Marie Curie Centre
 30
 30
 30
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Inverclyde Royal Hospital
 405
 398
 388
 393
 454
 454
 435
 395
 395
 391


 Johnstone Hospital
 106
 106
 104
 104
 91
 87
 99
 65
 59
 60


 Larkfield Unit
 -
 -
 -
 -
 17
 26
 28
 28
 28
 28


 Lennox Castle Hospital
 584
 463
 399
 300
 177
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Lenzie Hospital
 60
 48
 29
 4
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Leverndale Hospital
 483
 471
 409
 404
 370
 356
 340
 314
 317
 318


 Lightburn Hospital
 120
 118
 120
 120
 120
 119
 120
 120
 120
 118


 Mansionhouse Unit
 248
 230
 220
 220
 228
 244
 242
 231
 237
 234


 Mearnskirk House
 71
 72
 72
 72
 72
 72
 72
 72
 72
 72


 Merchiston Hospital
 239
 214
 209
 208
 173
 132
 92
 63
 56
 52


 Mohsen Nursing Home
 -
 -
 30
 30
 30
 30
 30
 30
 30
 30


 Netherton
 -
 -
 -
 -
 6
 8
 8
 8
 7
 8


 Newark Lodge
 36
 10
 10
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Parkhead Hospital
 197
 160
 125
 131
 133
 133
 141
 133
 130
 130


 Pineview
 -
 -
 3
 4
 4
 3
 4
 4
 4
 4


 Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice
 21
 14
 14
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Queen Mother's Hospital
 103
 100
 99
 97
 97
 98
 98
 98
 98
 89


 Ravenscraig Hospital
 288
 247
 281
 332
 240
 231
 205
 191
 179
 171


 Rodgerpark Nursing Home
 60
 60
 60
 60
 50
 30
 30
 30
 30
 30


 Rowantree Nursing Home
 120
 120
 100
 120
 120
 120
 120
 119
 116
 112


 Royal Alexandra Hospital
 752
 740
 732
 714
 713
 685
 722
 739
 729
 743


 Royal Hospital for Sick Children
 279
 275
 270
 274
 268
 273
 267
 261
 260
 253


 Ruchill Hospital
 19
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Rutherglen Maternity Hospital
 60
 17
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Seafield Unit
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 18
 18
 18
 17
 18


 Southern General Hospital
 795
 802
 778
 746
 817
 834
 875
 906
 911
 900


 St Margaret's Hospice
 82
 55
 55
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Stobhill Hospital
 603
 532
 501
 685
 668
 649
 640
 626
 594
 585


 Stobhill Nursing Home
 28
 29
 22
 14
 2
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 The Princess Royal Maternity Unit
 122
 119
 113
 111
 108
 108
 108
 105
 105
 112


 Vale of Leven General Hospital
 307
 299
 290
 299
 295
 266
 224
 195
 185
 178


 Victoria Infirmary
 477
 484
 485
 480
 478
 420
 379
 367
 355
 360


 Western Infirmary/Gartnavel General
 1,231
 1,181
 1,157
 1,139
 1,137
 1,139
 1,142
 1,063
 1,051
 1,038


 Woodilee Hospital
 398
 334
 242
 32
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Wyndford Locks Nursing Home
 -
 23
 29
 30
 24
 30
 16
 -
 -
 -



  Notes:

  Data as at 31 March for all specialties.

  Data for year ending 31 March 2007 are provisional.

  Specialty definitions in Scotland were revised from 1 April 1997. As a result directly comparable information prior to 1997-98 is not available.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average age of (a) policemen and (b) policewomen is in each force.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers retired in each force in (a) January, (b) February, (c) March and (d) April 2008.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

  Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland collect and publish annual data on police retirements, the latest figures for which are available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Police/15403/Statistical.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were recruited in each force in (a) January, (b) February, (c) March and (d) April 2008.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

  Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland collect and publish annual data on police recruitment, the latest figures for which are available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Police/15403/Statistical.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional money it has allocated to the Scottish Police College in the current financial year.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police College is one of the police support services provided by the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). SPSA is funded through grant-In-aid from the Scottish Government. The breakdown of budgets between the individual services it provides is an operational matter for SPSA. The Scottish Government has not therefore allocated any additional money specifically to the Scottish Police College in the current financial year.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money each police force has allocated for anti-terrorist measures in 2008-09 and how that compares to each of the preceding four financial years.

Kenny MacAskill: We are providing the police with record resources. It is an operational decision for Chief Constables to allocate those resources. In addition, the Scottish Government provides dedicated funding for counter terrorism to ensure that Scotland is at least as well protected as the rest of the United Kingdom.

Prescriptions

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any circumstances in which a person under 16 years old would have to pay for a prescription.

Shona Robison: Persons under 16 years of age are not required to pay for items prescribable through the NHS. However, they may be asked to pay for medicines which are not available through the NHS, and which are therefore prescribed privately.

Prescriptions

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether prescriptions required for foreign travel are covered by current guidance on prescription charge exemptions.

Shona Robison: No. Prescription charge exemptions relates to patients’ individual personal circumstances. If a prescription required for foreign travel is available through the NHS no charge would be payable by an exempt patient.

  Guidance on travel vaccinations is available on the NHS 24 website which can be found at:

  www.nhs24.com.

Prescriptions

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether young people travelling abroad on educational trips should be liable for prescription charges incurred in association with such trips.

Shona Robison: Young people travelling abroad on educational trips are treated in the same way as anyone else wishing to travel abroad. Certain vaccinations for travelling abroad, such as those for typhoid, hepatitis A and poliomyelitis, are available through the NHS on public health grounds. However, GPs at their discretion, may charge patients for prescribing and administering vaccinations which are not available through the NHS. A charge may also be applied if an International Certificate of Vaccination is required.

Prison Service

Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drug finds there were in each prison in each of the last five years, broken down by type of drug.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The table below illustrates the number of suspected drug finds recorded in each of the last five years broken down by establishment. The SPS does not carry out analysis on substances found, and is not always advised of the outcomes of such analysis.

  

 Incident Establishment Name
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 Grand Total


 Aberdeen
 28
 37
 43
 50
 53
 13
 224


 Barlinnie
 149
 224
 320
 340
 396
 140
 1.569


 Castle Huntly
 12
 17
 37
 78
 19
 
 163


 Cornton Vale
 34
 59
 96
 89
 110
 33
 421


 Dumfries
 22
 25
 21
 24
 34
 9
 135


 Edinburgh
 215
 244
 281
 229
 226
 124
 1.319


 Glenochil Prison
 51
 101
 118
 118
 148
 57
 593


 Glenochil YOI
 1
 
 
 
 
 
 1


 Greenock
 40
 92
 85
 82
 79
 30
 408


 Inverness
 
 
 2
 18
 13
 6
 39


 Kilmarnock
 107
 204
 263
 368
 253
 118
 1.313


 Low Moss
 46
 93
 114
 67
 26
 
 346


 Noranside
 3
 24
 23
 22
 5
 
 77


 Open Estate
 
 
 
 
 48
 26
 74


 Perth
 80
 206
 231
 190
 147
 61
 915


 Peterhead
 1
 3
 1
 12
 6
 1
 24


 Polmont
 38
 170
 164
 115
 120
 47
 654


 Shotts
 35
 73
 160
 140
 96
 50
 554


 Grand Total
 862
 1,572
 1,959
 1,942
 1,779
 715
 8,829

Prison Service

Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what quantities of drugs were found in each prison in each of the last five years, broken down by type of drug.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  All suspected drug finds are reported to the police. The SPS do not determine the type or category of drug recovered.

  For the number of suspected drug finds I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12745 on 20 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12333 by Kenny MacAskill on 7 May 2008, how many staff in each prison have been given permission to undertake (a) other employment, (b) self-employment and (c) voluntary work.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  We do not hold information on the categories as requested, however the current data held by the SPS centrally is as follows:

  Number of Staff with Approved Secondary Employment as at 14 May 2008

  

 Establishment
 


 Aberdeen
 23


 Barlinnie
 6


 Cornton Vale
 17


 Dumfries
 10


 Edinburgh
 44


 Glenochil
 2


 Greenock
 37


 Inverness
 13


 Open Estate
 14


 Perth
 41


 Peterhead
 5


 Polmont
 27


 Shotts
 26


 Total
 265

Prison Service

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what site has been selected for the new prison to replace HM Prison Peterhead.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Full details of the proposed prison development programme and sources of funding are available in the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008.

  Work is underway to prepare for the commencement of the procurement process for HM Prison Grampian, to replace HM Prison Aberdeen and HM Prison Peterhead, which will require planning permission and possibly the acquisition of a suitable site. The site for HM Prison Grampian will be in the Peterhead area.

Prison Service

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what public consultation it will hold on the choice of site for the new prison to replace HM Prison Peterhead.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  HM Prison Grampian, which will replace HM Prison Aberdeen and HM Prison Peterhead, will be located in the Peterhead area. Planning permission will be sought following identification of a site for this development and public consultation will be carried out as required by the planning process in due course.

Prison Service

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to support Aberdeen Prison Visiting Committee’s efforts to establish a new community prison in Aberdeen.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Options for the development of a new prison to serve north east Scotland are under consideration. The Scottish Government has announced that this prison will be built in the Peterhead area and there are no plans for prison facilities within the city of Aberdeen.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by what means it proposes to finance the provision of two new prisons approved in August 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Full details of the proposed prison development programme and sources of funding are available in the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008.

  HM Prison Bishopbriggs and HM Prison Grampian will be funded from the SPS capital budget.

Scottish Futures Trust

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its intentions for the Scottish Futures Trust initiative.

John Swinney: I have today written to the Convener of the Finance Committee explaining the government’s intention to set up a Scottish Futures Trust company and providing further details of its plans for the Scottish Futures Trust initiative. A copy of that letter and the associated Business Case is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45605).